Join us May 9, at 9:30 a.m., for a free, in-person event for anyone interested or involved in expanding digital access or literacy and the role that libraries can play in this effort, including librarians, civic leaders, broadband suppliers, and workforce advocates. We’ll discuss how to build and strengthen relationships to better serve our communities.

The Texas Library Association (TLA) will host a digital opportunity conversation in Clute, Texas, at the Brazosport Center for the Arts. TLA’s partners, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC), Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Municipal League, and TLA District Leaders will be in attendance.

The conversation will be moderated by Warren Davis, Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator for TSLAC’s office of Library Digital Opportunity.

Panelists will include:

• Andrea Pacheco and Lauren Weber, Digital Opportunity Outreach Coordinators, Texas Broadband Development Office
• Ana Frade, Project Coordinator, Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy, Houston Public Library
• Lisa Loranc, Library Director, Brazoria County Public Library
• Lakisha Bates, Director of Professional Skills Development, The Next Steps, Inc.

The focus of the conversation is to narrow the digital divide for all Texans. The internet is a necessity for education, work, health, safety, and staying connected with friends and family. High-speed internet, computing devices, and the skills to use them should be accessible to everyone. With unprecedented funding for broadband coming soon, this is an opportunity to begin a dialog in your community.

The partnership seeks to cultivate community-based partnerships between municipalities, their public libraries, and other local service providers. The collective goal is to enhance the critical resources of digital access, digital literacy, and digital opportunity efforts for education, health, and workforce development.

This event will run from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and is free to attend. Please RSVP here.

This will be the third in a series of five digital conversations, with future events to be held in Alpine on May 31 and Wichita Falls on June 7. 

DETAILS